300 SNAs cut but no independent appeals process in place [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 12 March 2010
UP TO 300 special needs assistants (SNAs) have been cut in schools at a time when there is no independent appeals process, an Oireachtas committee was told yesterday.
Just over a year ago, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe asked the National Council for Special Education to undertake a national review of the allocation of special needs assistants.
Post-primary and special schools were included in the review, which will conclude at the end of the month.
Education council says up to 300 special needs jobs may be cut [IrishTimes]
- Published: 12 March 2010
THE STATE body conducting a review into the allocation of special needs assistants to schools has said it estimates that 200 to 300 assistants will lose their jobs.
But the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) insisted yesterday that the review, ordered by Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe, was not a cost-cutting exercise or a change in policy.
“In conducting the review there was absolutely no change in policy . . . an important factor in the allocation of resources, unlike other areas, is there is no cap on [assistant] numbers or financial cap,” Pat Curtin, council chief executive, told the Oireachtas committee on education and science.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Flood of primary principals retiring [finegael.org]
- Published: 12 March 2010
Principals and Deputy Principals left in droves in 2009
There has been a flood of resignations from primary schools with 661 principals retiring from the 3,300 schools nationwide since 2007 according to information revealed to Fine Gael Education Spokesman, Brian Hayes TD (see here).
The information received by Deputy Hayes also showed that principals left schools in droves in 2009 with over 321 retiring last year alone and that deputy principals also taking flight with over 500 retiring in three years.
“This flood of retirements is nothing short than top level teacher flight.
Full Story: www.finegael.org
Special needs appeal board fails to hear a single case [Independent.ie]
- Published: 12 March 2010
There is uproar among parents about the reduction in the number of special needs assistants in schools
AN independent appeals board set up to deal with children with special educational needs has not been allowed to hear a single case -- even though the Department of Education has already spent more than €300,000 on it.
The board was set up in April 2007 and its three-year term comes to an end next month, without the legislation necessary to allow it to start its work being put in place.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
One in five primary principals has retired since 2007 [Independent.ie]
- Published: 12 March 2010
ONE in five primary school principals has retired in the past three years, prompting fears about the exodus of experienced managers.
The trend, which grew last year according to new figures, is expected to grow again this summer when it is forecast record numbers will retire.
The figures show that 661 principals -- out of a total of almost 3,300 -- have retired since 2007, as did 501 deputy principals.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
